Display and dispensing carton



Sept. 9, 1941. 1.. B. POSPISIL DISPLAY AND DISPENSING CARTON Filed Feb.14, 1939 YIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR M M ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 9, 1941UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE 2,255,331 DISPLAY AND msmsme CARTON Louis B.Pospisil, Seattle, Wash Amine-anti; February 14 ,1 939, Serial No.256,361 3 Claims. (01. 20e-42) The object of this invention is toprovide an improved carton for fragile articles, such for instance asmedical capsules.

Such merchandise is of a character requiring containers of a specialnature and which are particularly adapted for the performance of thisfunction. Since these capsules are often of a liquid content having agelatinous casing, they are not only affected by changes of temperaturebut they are subject to serious injury as a result of attritionalcontact with each other. Hence, they are wholly unlike a pill or similarself stable entity. Further, because of their peculiar nature, it isfrequently difficult to extract them from a container, and in the act ofusing the fingers for that purpose, the capsules are frequently injured.

One of the major objects of this invention is to provide an improvedcarton from which capsules can readily be discharged, one at a time,without using the fingers, and wherein theremaining capsules will beretained in position in the carton.

A further object is to provide the carton with means for maintaining andretaining the capsules in separated relation from each other, incombination with the means for facilitating discharge of the capsulesfrom the carton.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide a discharging means, ora means whereby discharge of capsules may be effected, in such a mannerand of such a nature that the discharging means will also function inthe capacity of a display means for the contents.

Where the carton is embodied in the form of a tray and tray holder, itis a feature of the invention to equip the tray with means forseparating the capsules into rows, and to provide means associated withthe tray, for the purpose of releasing the capsules of any one row fordischarge, and retaining the capsules t all the other rows from beingdischarged until the capsules of the released row have been exhausted ordischarged and thereafter releasing the capsules of successive orselected rows for discharge.

In the most improved form of the invention,

such controlling and releasing means is transparent to afford display ofthe contents, and it is also a feature to provide such a transparentmeans in such a manner that it will function initially to seal thecontents of the tray against circulation of air and entrance of foreignmatter, and also to act in the advantageous manner of an original seal.

objects which will be more fully described in connection with theaccompanying drawing and which will be more particularly pointed out inand by the appended claims;

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one form of my in vention, partly in elevationand with parts broken away and other parts shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of one side of the tray showing themanner in which one of the rows of capsules can be released fordischarge.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the carton with the tray partlywithdrawn to illustrate that .some of the capsules have been dischargedfrom one row, and how the capsules of the other rows are retained.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 5-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one end of the transparent retaining meansshown detached from the tray.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 66 of Fig. 1, looking toward theleft, and on an enlarged scale to show how the retaining means issecured to the tray portions.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line '|1 of Fig. 3, showing a fragment ofthe grid means for isolating the capsules.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 7, showing another viewof the grid means.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 9 of Fig. 2, showing how the gridmeans is located in the tray.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout thediiferent figures of the drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, the carton is shown in the form of a trayand tray holder in relatively slidable relation, and in describing thestructure I shall only go into detail relative to those portions whichare pertinent to the invention as many changes could be made within thescope of my claims.

The holder is open at both ends and consists of side walls I and 2, andtop and bottom walls I and 4, respectively. As shown, the top wall 3, isimperforate throughout its length and width except for certain openingsto be later described, and this affords the advantage of makingpractically the entire surfaceof said top wall available foradvertising,matter and avoiding the expense of display windows.

Reference will next be made to my improved The invention has manyotherfeatures and tr y and t0 the manner in which it is pp to coact withth holder and receive and permit discharge of the tray contents.

This article containing tray is shown provided with a bottom wall 5,side walls 8 and end walls I. The end walls I are provided with inwardextensions 8 that slightly overhang the bottom wall 5, as shown moreclearly in Fig. 9, and the purpose of which will presently appear. Theexact manner in which these walls and extensions are formed is notmaterial to the invention. However, it will now appear that the traystructure forms a shallow receiving chamber adapted to contain thecontents of the carton, and it is also desirable to have the extensions8, flush with the side walls 6, when the carton is equipped with thenovel means to be presently described although this flush relationshipis not absolutely essential.

Reference will next be made to the means with which the tray is equippedfor forming a plurality of pockets or receivers for containing thearticles and maintaining them in separated or isolated relation fromeach other.

In the present construction, I have provided means for retaining thearticles in the order of a series of rows, which may, as shown, be inparallel relation, if the carton is formed on rectangular lines, asillustrated. I have shown a means for forming pockets that willaccommodate capsules that may be of circular or elongated form and thesepockets are thus shown as being substantially square, which isadvantageous in view of the grid-like means illustrated, but thisparticular shape is not essential to the broad concept of the invention.

As shown, the grid-like means consists of longitudinally disposed gridmembers of a single thickness and which are indicated at Ill, and theends may be slightly reduced, as shown in Fig. 9, to project under theextensions 8, and serve as one means of retaining the grid members inthe tray. If desired, the lower edges of the grid members may becemented or glued to the bottom wall 5, of the tray, although this isoptional. I also provide transversely disposed grid members which may,as shown, also constitute stiffening members for the carton, and whichare shown constructed as follows and as all are identical in form andfunction, only one will be describedin detail, reference being had toFigs. 7 to 9.

The stiffening or re-inforcing grid member may consist of a strip ofcardboard folded as shown to form a bight portion I2 and flange portionsI3, with the bight portion l2 disposed uppermost and being substantiallyflush with the top edges of members ID, for a purpose to be presentlydescribed.

The grid members ID, are notched or slitted as indicated at H, toreceive the flanges I3, and it will be seen that the lower edges offlanges l3, are not flush with the lower edges of grid members It], inthis particular construction, although this is not important. Thetongue, which results from slitting the members III, to accommodateflanges I3, is indicated at 5, and its upper end is reduced toaccommodate the bight por- [1011 I2. Now it will be clear that the endsof the U-shaped grid members indicated at |2|3, will engage the sidewalls 5, of the tray, and as the grid members l0, engage the end wallsI, of the tray, the grid means will be securely located againstdisplacement in the tray. It is optional whether the grid members arecemented or otherwise united to each other as that would be a matter ofmechanical skill in view of this disclosure.

Thus, viewing Fig. 1, it will be clear that a grid frame is provided inthe tray, which, in coaction with the bottom wall 5, of. the latter, andthe side walls 6, forms a. plurality of capsule containing pockets orreceivers, adapted to contain the capsules A in separated relation fromeach other. It will also be seen that there are five parallel rows ofpockets shown.

Brief reference will now be made to the holder and the means forpermitting discharge of the capsules.

I have shown the holder provided with five discharge openings, one foreach row of capsules, and which are indicated at Hi to 20, and which maybe slightly larger in diameter or size than the capsules A which passthrough them. It will also be seen that these openings IE to 20,register respectively with the five rows of capsules, which may beindicated at B to F.

Reference will next be made to a novel means of retaining capsules ofcertain rows from being discharged and permitting capsules of anotherrow to be released, and in the most improved form of the invention, thismeans also functions as a display means whereby the contents of thecarton may be inspected before it is purchased. In a further phase, thisimproved means also provides a way of initially sealing the contents ofthe carton.

Said means consists, as shown, of a sheet of material, which, in themost improved embodiment is made of transparent material of any typewithin the selective skill of a paper expert, or it may be instead ofpaper, a type of Cellophane. I have shown in Fig. 5, one corner endfragment of a transparent sheet indicated at 2|. This will be the fullwidth and length of the tray and end portions 22, may be sub-divided asshown. The ends of the sheet 2|, if it is desired to cover all of therows of capsules, may be pasted or otherwise secured to the inwardlyprojecting extensions 8, on the tops thereof whereon the ends 22,overlap, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The side margins of sheet 2|, may bepasted or otherwise secured to the top edges of side wall 6, of thetray, and if desired, intermediate portions may be pasted or glued tothe top edges of grid members In, or spotted to the bight portions |2 ofthe transverse grid members. Thus secured, sheet 2|, functions as anefiective seal to guarantee the condition of the goods, and to preventair circulation in the tray. It will be seen, as thus far described,that sheet 2|, if transparent, would permit the buyer to shift the trayin the holder and inspect the contents of the tray, and still form aneffective original seal for the goods.

In order to carry out a further feature of the invention and make thesheet perform a selective retaining function, I weaken, slit orperforate the sheet longitudinally on lines coincident with thelongitudinal grid members I 0, as indicated at 23. If the sheet 2|, isto perform an air sealing function, the sheet is weakened on said lines23 but not perforated. It will of course be understood that the sheet 2|is applied to the tray by the manufacturer after the tray has beencharged with capsules.

When the user purchases a carton of capsules, he may detach the flat orpasted end 22, from its extension 8, as shown in Fig. 2, and tear offthat portion of the sheet covering the first row B, of

capsules to release the same for discharge. Of course the tray isremoved from the holder for this initial purpose and then restored tothe holder. After the capsules of row B,'have been discharged, the nextstrip segment may be removed to release row C, and so on, until thecapsules of all the rows have been discharged. If it is not desired toair seal the tray, then only the ends of sheet 2|, will be secured toextensions 8, and it is within the scope of this invention for themanufacturer to initially cover and retain all but one row of capsules,as will now be clear, although I have shown a sheet wide enough to closeall the rows.

I will next describe a feature of the invention whereby the releasing ordischarge openings Hi to 20, may also serve as display openings tothereby avoid the necessity and expense of providing the top wall 3, orthe holder with a window, thus reserving all the space for descriptivematter regarding the contents.

A strip of transparent material indicated at 2, is pasted or otherwiseapplied to the top wall 3, to initially cover the openings It to Ill,and this strip is scored or weakened on lines 25, so that one sectioncan be removed or disrupted as shown in Fig. 3, to thereby release thecorrespondin opening and thereby permit of discharging the capsules ofthe first row, or any row selected. After the capsules of the selectedrow have been exhausted, then the next section will be removed, and soon, as will now be clear. In addition to the display feature, it will beseen that by covering these discharge openings, no foreign matter canenter the carton through them prior to the time that the carton reachesthe consumer.

While the operation may be clear from the foregoing description, it willbe briefly recapitulated as follows:-

If the carton is not sealed with an outer envelope, as is common, but inthis case, entirely optional, it will reach the purchaser as shown inFig. 1, and because of the air sealing feature, the manufacturer neednot additionally seal the carton. Thus, the purchaser can either viewthe contents through the transparent sections 24, and sheet II, or hecan slightly withdraw the tray and view the contents, or wholly withdrawthe tray and note the number of articles contained therein.

After purchasing, the user may first remove one section of strip 24,usually the first section, as shown in Fig. 3, to make one dischargeopening operable or available. 'I'hen, by withdrawing the tray, he willremove a strip from sheet 2|, alined glith the discharge openingselected, as shown in Then the tray will be restored to the holder androw 13, of the capsules, will be released for possible discharge throughopening ii. If the opening i6, is in the position shown, as in Fig. 1,so that it is in registery with the first capsule, the carton may beinverted and the first capsule will drop out without being touched withthe fingers, and the tray will be in a closed position. However, it iswithin the scope of this invention to dispose the first capsule out ofregistry with the discharge opening, if desired. To remove the nextcapsules of row B, the tray is merely shifted, step by step until theyhave all been removed, the process being shown in Fig. 3. It isimportant to point out that when the carton is inverted to dischargesuccessive capsules, with the tray partly withdrawn, the remainingportion of sheet 2i acts effectively to prevent discharge of anycapsules in any of the remaining rows, as will now be clear. To gainaccess to the next rows, the process is the same, namely, the sheet 2|is successively stripped off, section by section.

It will be clear that the grid members not only serve to isolate thecapsules, but they also serve to stiffen the carton, as will now beclear.

While I have shown the discharge openings near one end of the holder,this is not an essential position, but it has the very decided advantagethat this location avoids the rather extensive degree of adjustment orshifting of the tray that would be necessary if the discharge openingswere centrally located between the ends of the holder.

While I have herein shown and described one form of my invention, 1 donot wish to be limited opening for each row whereby articles may bedischarged from any row one at a time upon relative adjustment of saidtray and holder, a transparent strip initially secured to said holderand closing said discharge openings and sewin to display some of thecontents of said rows and adapted to be sectionally removed or disruptedfrom said openings for selectively releasing a row of articles fordischarge, and a sheet of transparent material sealed onto said tray andcovering the articles and being scored between said rows for sectionalremoval corresponding to sectional removal of said strip to release aselected row and retain articles in un-released rows against discharge.

2. A carton for fragile articles comprising a tray holder, a trayslidable in said holder and having means for retaining the articles inthe order of a series of rows, said holder having a discharge openingfor each row for displayin articles and whereby articles may bedischarged from any row one at a time upon relative adjustment of saidtray and holder, and a sheet f transparent material secured to said trayand covering said articles and being scored between said rows forsectional removal corresponding to the row to be released for dischargethrough a selected discharge opening.

3. A carton for fragile articles comprising a tray holder, 9. trayslidable in said holder and

